What we do
Action Ecology provides agro-ecological assessment, design & advisory services to clients.
We help our clients to identify and mitigate the key risks in their landscape, while providing them with options for how optimise its function, stability and health through deeper understanding of, and partnering with, the ecological processes at work.
In addition to working with farmers and land owners / managers, we collaborate across the public and private sectors on a variety of projects and initiatives to advise, educate and advocate around ecologically richer and more resilient landscapes that can support better outcomes for human health, prosperity and biodiversity.
How we do it
We draw on the latest science and best-practice from around the world as well as our own knowledge and experience to offer our clients a set of design and advisory services that are specific to their unique context and that support them in improving the productivity, resource efficiency, resilience and ecological function of their landscape.
As systems specialists, our approach is necessarily holistic. This means at any given time we may find ourselves working across diverse areas such as site assessment, agroforestry system design, water management for erosion control & drought resilience, native vegetation planning for biodiversity outcomes and the development of stacked farm enterprise models - in addition to providing advice and support to people wanting to transition to regenerative grazing and diverse land-use operations.
As systems specialists, our approach is necessarily holistic. This means at any given time we may find ourselves working across diverse areas such as site assessment, agroforestry system design, water management for erosion control & drought resilience, native vegetation planning for biodiversity outcomes and the development of stacked farm enterprise models - in addition to providing advice and support to people wanting to transition to regenerative grazing and diverse land-use operations.
We aren't about quick-fixes or band-aid solutions, we work with people to look at the reality of their landscape and help them understand and work with the ecosystem processes that are taking place. Where there are existing issues to overcome, our focus is not about treating symptoms, or simply 'solving problems' as they appear, but rather addressing root causes. By doing this we can help our clients plan for permanence while improving the health, resilience and productivity of their system (in the most cost and resource-efficient way possible) while minimising their impact on the environment - so they can pass their land on in better health than they found it..
Why we're different
One of the things that makes us unique, is that we are not a ‘single solution’ consultancy. By having more than ‘one tool in the toolbox’ we can avoid a lot of potential problems that can arise from seeing everything through only one narrow lens. We don’t believe there is any ‘one size fits all’ approach. Instead, we draw upon a suite of different methodologies, strategies and techniques - proven effective on the ground - informed by the latest scientific research across a range of disciplines, as well as innovation in the field from all around the world. By drawing together this vast web of science and best-practice, we provide our clients with the insight and access to knowledge they need to feel supported and empowered to achieve their long term goals in a way that is strategic, incremental and pragmatic.
Overall, our aim is to connect people with the right knowledge - helping them improve landscape function, ecological health and long term resilience. This (ultimately) helps all of us build a better, fairer, healthier and more permanent (sustainable) food system.
Overall, our aim is to connect people with the right knowledge - helping them improve landscape function, ecological health and long term resilience. This (ultimately) helps all of us build a better, fairer, healthier and more permanent (sustainable) food system.
Why it matters
With increasing threats to our landscapes from drought, flooding, erosion and extreme weather across the globe, the time has come to start working smarter not harder. The healthier and more resilient to weather extremes our landscapes become, the better our productivity is, the less energy and resources we need to use - and the more money and time we have to spend on life, family and the things that matter most, not to mention leaving behind a landscape hopefully in better shape than we found it.
If you would like to know more about what we do and how we approach our work, then explore this website and please feel free to get in contact with us - we'd be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Action Ecology is based in the North Island of Aotearoa New Zealand, but works with clients both locally and across the globe.